Leake & Watts to Honor Longtime Board Member Joyce Coppin Mondesire At Its Annual Awards Gala 2016 on October 27th

Actress January LaVoy Will Serve as the Evening’s Emcee; Leake & Watts Supporters Nick and Lisa Preddice Are Gala Chairs

To Joyce Coppin Mondesire, education is the key to rising above adversity and social challenges. As an educator, she has created opportunities and programs for the underserved, which is why Leake & Watts, the award-winning nonprofit human services agency, will honor the New York City resident at its Annual Awards Gala to be held at The Pierre on Thursday, October 27th at 6:30 p.m.

In an educational career stretching over six decades, Dr. Coppin Mondesire is known for creating programs to put New York City public school students on a path to success, and recruiting talented teachers when they were in short supply. “She helped underserved students realize the dream of quality public education,” explains Alan Mucatel, executive director of Leake & Watts. “And as a board member, she has played a role in the growth and success of our educational services for thousands of disadvantaged and non-traditional students. It is a privilege to work with her.”

Dr. Coppin Mondesire has been a Leake & Watts board member for 11 years. At the gala, she will be recognized for her contributions to education and for her longtime support of Leake & Watts, which provides education and other vital support to more than 11,000 at-risk children, adults, and families in the Greater New York area.

Now Teaching Teachers

A resident of New York’s Upper West Side, Dr. Coppin Montdesire currently is a Distinguished Visiting Professor in Educational Leadership at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and a Distinguished Lecturer at City College of New York. She began her career as a teacher in New York City and went on to hold many leadership positions at the New York City Board of Education. She served as Chief Executive of the Division of Human Resources; Superintendent of Brooklyn High Schools; Deputy Superintendent of Community School District 16; and Superintendent of the Division of Special Education, among many other supervisory roles. In 2002, President George W. Bush honored Dr. Coppin Montdesire for her work in recruiting and training teachers.

A transformational leader, Dr. Coppin Montdesire developed, designed, and founded numerous programs to help public school students pursue higher education. The City College Academy of the Arts, an early college secondary school in partnership with the Department of Education, was one. She has also spearheaded programs such as College Now, programs and services that support 20 New York City high schools; Middle Grades Initiative/GEAR UP Programs, which provides college preparation programs and services to students in grades 6-8 in middle schools in Harlem, and she initiated the Harlem Scholars Program to provide access to comprehensive college readiness services in conjunction with City College of New York, City University, and the General Electric/Council on Equal Opportunity.

Dr. Coppin Mondesire became involved with Leake & Watts through her own work at Trinity Church in Manhattan, which was the original site of what was then called the Leake and Watts Orphan House in 1831. The relationship between Trinity Church and Leake & Watts remains close, and a board seat is reserved for a representative of the church per Leake & Watts’ 19th century by-laws. Dr. Coppin Mondesire, a member of Trinity’s Congregational Council, has held that seat since 2005.

A Fun Night with a Serious Purpose

The evening begins with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. New York City actress January LaVoy, who appeared in ENRON on Broadway, will lead the festivities as emcee. There will be a live auction, the highlight of which will be bidding for a chance to race at Monticello Motor Club, a private automotive country club and racetrack.

The Annual Awards Gala is Leake & Watts largest fundraiser of the year. Chairing the gala are Nick Preddice, CEO of wealth management firm Affinity Group, LLC, and his wife Lisa, a partner at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP. “Lisa and I are honored to chair this important fundraising gala for an organization that supports thousands of vulnerable children, adults, and families in the New York metropolitan area,” Mr. Preddice says. “Over the past two years we have met many of the students and adults who have just blossomed and achieved such confidence and skills thanks to the dedicated professionals at Leake & Watts.” The Preddices are residents of Goldens Bridge, New York.

Joining Nick and Lisa Preddice as major gala sponsors are BNY Mellon; Beth and Tom Renyi; Agnes and Gerald Hassell; Emmet, Marvin & Martin, LLP; Fidelity National Title; EY; Susan and Rodman Benedict; Xerox; Trinity Church of Wall Street; Margery E. Ames; Chubb Group of Insurance; Matthew & Caroline Del Percio; Joseph and Lesley Hoopes; Hana Ben-Shabat; José M. Jara; Crossan and Peggy Seybolt; USI Insurance; the Affinity Group, LLC.; Nixon Peabody; Zaskorski & Associates; and Chem Rx. Additional sponsorship packages are available.

To purchase tickets or become a gala sponsor, visit https://leakeandwatts.givezooks.com/events/2016-annual-awards-gala. For additional information, the public is invited to contact development@leakeandwatts.org or call 914-375-8711.